On the one hand, Margot had teared up at the moment of my departure, confessing that she was (had been) afraid she would never see me again. //past perfect issue//

Question

Hello,I have been reading a book called Invisible by P. Auster and I have a question about past perfect used in the paragraph below. I don't know why the author used the past perfect only where it is written in bold. I added the verbs written in italic where I would have used the past perfect as well.Perhaps it could be a past perfect simplification past perfect -&gt; past simple but in this case to move to the past of past would be enough with Margot had teared up continuing with past simple only.   It was a dismal end to what had been such a momentous time for me, and I left the apartment feeling shattered, perplexed and perhaps a little angry as well. For days afterward, I kept going over that final conversation, and the more I analyzed it the less sense it made to me. On the one hand, Margot had teared up at the moment of my departure, confessing that she was (had been) afraid she would never see me again. That would suggest she (had wanted) wanted our fling to go on, but when I (had proposed) proposed that we (had began) be­gin meeting at my apartment, she had become hesitant, all but telling me it wouldn't be possible. I (had had) had no idea what that meant. Then she had started talking about Born, which quickly devolved into a muddle of contradictions and conflicting desires. She (had been) was worried that he was going to kick her out, but a second later that (had seemed) seemed to be exactly what she (had wanted) wanted. Even more, perhaps she (had been) was going to take the initia­tive and leave him herself. Many thanksm

Terryxpress · Accepted Answer

The author establishes that the "teared up" (a neologism) occurred prior to the previous actions/events in the Past Tense.

Once you establish the new time frame with Past Perfect, and the sequence of subsequent events is in the correct order with regard to time, the Past Tense is used. This the author does until we hit:
..."when I proposed that we begin meeting at my apartment..."
where we have a Past Tense verb followed by a Present Tense verb. The time frame has changed.
The author re-establishes that with 'had become', the Past Perfect, followed by the expected shift to Past Tense, "wouldn't be"

Then...instead of continuing in the Past Tense, she again uses the Past Perfect in the next sentence. This is not to do with time sequences of events per se, but a particular use of the Past Perfect.
To explain, look at this passage:
It was nearly 5 p.m. when by boss informed me I was to give a presentation at one of our branches in another city. No worries, I thought – I have all evening to prepare it. When I arrived home, I was plunged into a domestic crisis when my son fell out of his tree house and broke his arm. We were at the hospital till nearly 3 a.m., what with waiting for X-rays and what have you, and so I collapsed into bed in desperate need for sleep so I would be ready for the next day. Next morning, I skipped breakfast and dashed to the station. I arrived just as the train drew in, and the moment the carriage door opened, I boarded the train. As soon as I had found my seat, I opened my laptop and began to write my presentation.

There is an unexpected use of the Past Perfect. The implication is, whew, I’ve made it – I’ve caught the train on time…..now, NOW.. I can concentrate on preparing my report. All that went before is now separated off from the events that are now going to unfold. The 'abrupt' use of the Past Perfect signals some kind of change in the narrative.
In your narrative, the author uses this twice
"I had no idea what that meant. Then she had started talking about Born, which quickly devolved into a muddle of contradictions and conflicting desires."
The author interposes the Past Perfect to mirror what he experiences as her going off at a tangent and this becoming a disjointed conversation.
Then...then...after the "muddle of contradictions and conflicting desires", then she again she changes to:
"She had been worried that he was going to kick her out, but a second later that seemed to be exactly what she wanted."

This is a skilful piece of writing, where the author conveys to the reader the sudden turns in the conversation as he experienced them.

Marix998 · Answer

Thanks a lot for clearing another usage of the past perfect.

There is an unexpected use of the Past Perfect. The implication is, whew, I’ve made it – I’ve caught the train on time…..now, NOW.. I can concentrate on preparing my report. All that went before is now separated off from the events that are now going to unfold. The 'abrupt' use of the Past Perfect signals some kind of change in the narrative.
In your narrative, the author uses this twice
"I had no idea what that meant. Then she had started talking about Born, which quickly devolved into a muddle of contradictions and conflicting desires."

the author could have used past simple: I had no idea what that meant. Then she started talking about Born, which quickly devolved into a muddle of contradictions and conflicting desires. - here you don't feel the abrupt change in the narrative..am I right

Is it the same with your passage? - found would be ok but without the abrupt change feeling

It was nearly 5 p.m. when by boss informed me I was to give a presentation at one of our branches in another city. No worries, I thought – I have all evening to prepare it. When I arrived home, I was plunged into a domestic crisis when my son fell out of his tree house and broke his arm. We were at the hospital till nearly 3 a.m., what with waiting for X-rays and what have you, and so I collapsed into bed in desperate need for sleep so I would be ready for the next day. Next morning, I skipped breakfast and dashed to the station. I arrived just as the train drew in, and the moment the carriage door opened, I boarded the train. As soon as I had found my seat, I opened my laptop and began to write my presentation.

I am asking because here (as soon as I had found) it looks like that past perfect is used with the idea of completion of event - finding the seat.

m

Terryxpress · Answer

I am asking because here (as soon as I had found) it looks like that past perfect is used with the idea of completion of event: finding the seat.
Yes - and everything else that went before!!!
That's the complete change the author intends. He's given you the background history, and now, NOW, the narrative moves forward: how will he fare in his presentation?
We are meant to be caught up in the episodic nature of the protagonist's experience.

On the one hand, Margot had teared up at the moment of my departure, confessing that she was (had been) afraid she would never see me again. //past perfect issue//

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